Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-04-08
..The door was then opened, and l entered a

the woman for woman distinguished the
person 10 be.
'"No, | said.
"'Well, then, go in there, she said, pushing
m, into a room one side OF the passage.
''1hls room was family lighted by what
looked like moonlight pouring through panes
Of red glass
"lhe drawing ROOM" interrupted. you
remember John. Go on Charlie"
1T had most ghastly effect, I can tell
YOU, and | began 10 regret having come. The
woman stood at the door a long time without
speaking.
AT last she said 81 will send Mr.. Mort
down to you. Bat you must stay in the dark.
His eyes won't bear the light
'With these words she went up stairs. l
felt very comfortable, and began feeling in
my pocket for light ! can not tell you
how glad was TO discover couple Of fusees
in the lining of my wa stcoat
II heard her walking slowly up stairs ana
then in the room above my head. Then there
was sound Of voices "a of man and
woman talking, but | could not distinguish
what was said very clearly. The man seemed
TO ash: Who is III what does he wants"
The woman's answers were inaudlblc.
Presently | heard steps on the stairs-a
heavy, slow tread. 1t was Mr. Mort. On the
landing he began To whistle, aud came whis-
Ting into the ROOM
81 was sitting on chair opposite the door
and saw him come in. II was tall, stout
figure, and what greatly surprised me was
that he wore a hat.
~ could see neither his face nor his dress,
but assure YOU this tall, black figure wear
ing hat, was of no very comfortable aspect
es ! saw II pass through that mysterious light
lie crossed the room, Visiting all the
while, and sat down with his back TO the
window, the curtains Of which n arranged SO
as 10 completely conceal his person.
"Well, what DO YOU wsntr b. asked in a
very deep voice. II hope your business is
very important. Otherwise Won NAV get into
trouble for disturbing me at this hour. Come,
what is it!'
Il had prepared my answer, AMI said we
have had an oiIerof 5000 from Whites, of
New YORK, for the advance sheets of your next
novel We are 10 cable replt. ! have been
sent down to consult you, aud AT the same
time 10 ask sou when it will be ready. We arc
very anxious to get the manuscript in hand at
once
"Mr. Mort made no answer, and the perfect
stiffness of the house, the awful light that
shown through the window, and the dim out
line OF the mysterious figure among the cur
tains, produced together an effect that was
decidedly unpleasant to my nerves. decid-
ed hat my joke had gone tar enough But
could not 20 away without seeing our author;
that would have been - hascO So | dropped
a shilling on the floor, pretended to group for
IL, aud struck fusec
With a cry that chilled me % the bones
the figure sprang at me, wi h is arms out
OF course | waS not going to stand any yio-
lcncc, author or no author, 80 pushed nv
char in between mis- legs and dowu Ne came,
such cropper, Meanwhile rushed out into
the passage, opened the door somehow and
ran all the way here And Jolly glad am to
be out Of that house.
But didn't you see him after alll' cried.
30 YES answered Charlie, Il just lad a
glance as dropped my fusee when he
rushed al me. But that glance was quite
enough. IL was like concentrate Bediam.
well, describe him to us Charlie" said
my husband who seemed "a much interested
as | myself was.
"A tai, fat man, with fat face beardless
and whiskerless. He had a top hat on His
hair Was short and Ike rats tails"
John" | cried, horror stricken; why,
that's Mrs. Mort
This is very serious matt r." said my
husband. | hardly know what 10 think We
must 90 round TO Squire Dale tle first thing
IN The morning and tell him what we have
heard. He is mag istrate aud Il know how
To act
Perhaps she has murdered him" cried.
and ha. him In the house. % John, how
horriblev'
Don't jump at conclusions ike that, Mary"
said my husband. Il don't know what 10
think, bat am convinced III, matter ought
10 be investigated. Come, le, W 20 10 bed
We viii speak 10 Dale In the morning.
did not close my eyes all that night, but
kept thinking Of that horrible woman and
fancyiug all kinds OF dreadful things about
her and her house
Immediately after breakfast next morning
We went round n the grangc Nr. Dale.
when he heard Charles story, was most rcs0-
Lutte. He decided to draw out search war
rant, aud TO enter the premises BY force, II
necessary. When the village constable. whom
he sent for, had arrived, h set oui with him
and my husband. Charlie wa. anxlous to ac-
company them, but / felt 50 nervous that in-
sisted on his o-cortlng me home Mrs Dale
was Ill al the time, ~ did not want to let her
know " hat had happened.
We waited at the vicarage with the greatest
impotence for Johns return. Charlie be-
baved horribly and flied nav heal with the
most gruesome fancies. | can not imagine
where lac could have heard all the dreadful
stories he told me. He decided that Mrs
Mort must have killed her husband, anu that
the dead body was stu'Tel up th- par.or chin
neg. AT last seeing how frightened | was,
he tried TO calm me by laugiug at himself
NO, Mary" said he; I've got it now.
The old lady keeps her husband chailed up In
the back kitchen, on bread and wtttr. and
only lets him out when he has flushed book.
She fluids that Is the only way to make him
work"
| could not help smiling at this idea but
nevertheless was mighty curious 10 hear what
my husband would have to tel lie returned
about noon, and We met him at the gate.
saw AZ once by his face that my silly fears
had been unfound-d lie laughed heartily,